freedom of dress

Four Christians have gone to the European Court of Human Rights to argue that Christians as a group are being discriminated against in the UK, notes Symon Hill. But it is one thing to argue for free expression, quite another to argue for the right to discriminate against same-sex couples. Meanwhile, other Christians have witnessed to their faith by preparing to go to prison for a protest aganist nuclear weapons - but that case has received far less attention.

The first steps in a legal challenge to the French ban on face coverings have already been taken. Twelve Muslim women were arrested outside Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday, apparently for an unauthorised protest rather than for wearing the niqab - ten of the twelve were not wearing it.

The review of “counter-terrorism” legislation announced by the coalition government seems to be more comprehensive than I'd feared. Control orders, pre-charge detention and stop-and-search will all be on the agenda. It's a welcome announcement from a government about which I've so far found very little to welcome.

Religious liberty campaigners have condemned a vote by the French National Assembly in favour of banning face coverings in public. The proposed law is aimed at preventing Muslim women from wearing a veil, known as a niqab.

Recent years have seen a string of controversies relating to freedom of dress. Muslim headscarves, Christian crosses and Sikh bangles are just a few of the items to cause controversy. Given the importance of clothing and appearance to personal expression and religious identity, why do we not see a united campaign for freedom of dress?

France's main opposition party, the Socialists, have said that they will not support government plans to outlaw the wearing of certain forms of Islamic dress in public. The governing party has drafted plans to fine women for covering their faces.